LAHORE: Making teaching of the Holy Quran with translation compulsory in all universities in the province, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has constituted a seven-member committee of the vice chancellors to submit its recommendations on how to make it part of the syllabus.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with the vice chancellors at the Governor House on Friday, he said it would be compulsory for Muslim students to attend the ‘Quran with Translation’ lecture.
The governor said all universities should make teaching of ‘Quran with Translation’ part of their syllabus, adding that it was responsibility of universities to disseminate the knowledge of Quran to the younger generation. He said these classes would be compulsory for Muslim students and requisite amendment would be made in the constitution.
The governor constituted a seven-member committee of the VCs who will submit first draft of recommendations by May 10. The recommendations will be sent to the VCs of other public and private universities and the ulema in the province. He said the feedback from all quarters would be discussed on May 17, adding that the committee would submit final recommendations on May 22 (Friday- Jummatul Wida), which will be duly implemented across the province.
The Vice Chancellors’ committee is headed by Punjab University VC Prof Niaz Ahmed while Prof Dr Masood Gondal of King Edward Medical University (KEMU), University of Education VC Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, University of Health Sciences (UHS) VC Dr Javaid Akram, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) VC Prof Mansoor Sarwar, Government College University VC Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi and Lahore College for Women University VC Dr Bushra Mirza are the members.
The governor said the matter of reduction in university fees in the wake of coronavirus pandemic was also under consideration. “The world is passing through difficult times and I believe Allah is angry with us due to our sins. It is important to become good human beings through the right understanding of the Holy Quran”, Mr Sarwar said. He also said that people did recite the Holy Quran but did not know the Urdu translation.
The governor, who is the chancellor of universities, hailed leadership qualities of all vice chancellors in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, adding that the universities had played a constructive role by raising funds for the Prime Minister’s Corona Relief Fund, creating awareness on the coronavirus outbreak and establishing quarantine centers.
Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2020